Ann Pember, Watercolor Exhibition

Longtime Keeseville Resident Ann Pember Brings 40-Year Watercolor Exhibition to Restored Old Schoolhouse Gallery in Essex, NY

EVENT SNAPSHOT
– WHAT: Premier exhibition featuring nationally acclaimed watercolorist and longtime local resident Ann Pember, showcasing over 30 large-format works with the Adirondack Art Association in Essex, NY.
– WHEN:
** Exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, July 4.
** Special Opening Reception & Artist Talk with Ann Pember on Friday, July 10, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
– WHERE: The newly restored historic Old Schoolhouse Gallery (old ECHO building), 2728 Route 22, Essex, NY 12936, near the main AAA gallery at 2310 Main Street.
– COST: Free and open to the public.

ESSEX, NY – June 30, 2026 – The Adirondack Art Association (AAA) is pleased to announce a spectacular summer event celebrating the diverse talents, hidden gems, and raw beauty of the Adirondack Mountains and the shores of Lake Champlain. AAA will debut its newly restored historic Old Schoolhouse Gallery with a premier exhibition featuring nationally acclaimed watercolorist and longtime Keeseville resident Ann Pember. The show will open on Saturday, July 4, offering a rich dose of local culture and breathtaking fine art for those spending a summer afternoon in the Adirondacks before enjoying the evening’s fireworks.
The exhibition, completely free of charge, will showcase over 30 large-format works spanning Pember’s illustrious career. Renowned for her realist beauty, technical mastery, and ability to capture the tranquil light and luminous flora of the region, Pember has reached the pinnacle of the watercolor medium. She is a signature member of 22 national and regional art societies, including the American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society, and Allied Artists of America. Her masterworks have been selected for more than 375 national juried exhibitions, earning her more than 115 national awards. Her career includes prestigious exhibitions and workshops hosted across the country, including Hawaii, and her paintings have been featured in more than 50 publications, including seven volumes of the prestigious Splash book series.

While Pember grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts, and spent her early commercial art career in Boston, she has called the Adirondacks home since 1976. As a dedicated member of the Adirondack Art Association since 1987, this opening represents a profound milestone. After decades of perfecting her craft and achieving national recognition, her journey comes full circle as she helps inaugurate the organization’s incredible new exhibition space.

JULY 10 OPENING RECEPTION & ARTIST TALK
While the exhibition opens on July 4, a special opening celebration will be held on July 10 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The reception will feature a short artist talk hosted by Ann Pember herself. Attendees will also have the unique opportunity to view a series of short film clips documenting her mesmerizing painting process, watching a work come to life from a blank wash to a finished masterpiece. Following the talk, Pember will be available to sign copies of her acclaimed hardcover book, Painting Close-Focus Flowers in Watercolor, offering guests a chance to take home both inspiration and instruction from a master of the medium.

EXHIBITION RUN & LOCATION
The Ann Pember exhibition will run through the end of July. The exhibition and reception will take place at the new Old Schoolhouse Gallery, located near the main gallery at 2310 Main Street, Essex, NY 12936. While the restoration of the historic building is an ongoing labor of love that is not yet fully complete, the newly unveiled space promises to be a tremendous local draw.

STATEMENTS ON THE EXHIBITION
“It is meaningful to return to a building where much of my early creative years in the Adirondacks took place,” said Ann Pember. “It is an incredible honor to share my life’s work with a community that so deeply values its creative traditions, and to partner with the Adirondack Art Association, which remains such an important steward of regional arts.”

Wendy, Head of the AAA Board of Directors, noted the significance of the moment: “For over six decades, the Adirondack Art Association has championed the arts across five counties – regions known for being wild and sparsely populated, yet brimming with an immense amount of creativity, diversity, and talent. It is incredibly exciting to bring all of these firsts into one opening celebration. To see the delicate, luminous beauty of Ann’s watercolors juxtaposed against the ruggedness of the great Adirondack mountains is truly special. She has perfectly captured the essence of what makes this region so magnificent.”

A VIBRANT SUMMER AHEAD
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1963, AAA is gearing up for a wonderfully curated summer season with a fantastic lineup of events and exhibitions for local artists, art lovers, and supporters of the arts in the community and greater Adirondack region. The gallery encourages everyone to stop by, learn about annual exhibiting memberships, and stay in touch for upcoming art workshops, live painting demonstrations, and artist features.

MORE INFORMATION

EXHIBITION & GALLERY
For more information on the exhibition, gallery hours, or the Adirondack Art Association, please visit www.adkartessex.org or contact adkartessex@gmail.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
Paulina G. Brown, Assistant Director
Adirondack Art Association
adkartessex@gmail.com
+1 (518) 963-3047
www.adkartessex.org